2017-05-17
May 17th is the forty-seventh meeting of Systems Thinking Ontario. Please RSVP at Eventbrite.
Healthy Ecosystems <> Healthy People: An Ecosystems Approach to Health
Martin Bunch,
Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto, ON Canada
Drawing on his extensive experience of applying systems thinking to address wicked problems facing communities and ecosystems around the world, Martin will Introduce us to the Ecosystem Approach to Health. Ecohealth is a young and emerging systems-based approach to managing coupled human and natural systems to achieve improvements in human health and well-being, while fostering and sustaining healthy ecosystems. The approach is based on the understanding that health outcomes emerge from interrelationships within social–ecological systems.
In 1948, the World Health Organization adopted the following definition of health:
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely
the absence of disease or infirmity”
Still the most cited definition of health, this holistic definition stands in contrast to traditional medical and epidemiological practice, even today. Holistic, as well, the Ecosystem Approach to Health emphasizes principles of transdisciplinarity, participation, gender and social equity, systems thinking, sustainability, and research-to-action. Please join us on Wednesday, May 17th, to learn about this vitally important application of systems thinking and to discuss the variety of methods and techniques applied in Martin's work.
Join us in an open discussion. Newcomers always welcomed.
In preparation, please review the following notes:
Ecosystem Approaches to Health and Well-Being, 2016
Soft Systems Methodology and the Ecosystem Approach, 2003
Venue:
NOTE: IBM's doors are locked after working hours, so someone will have to let you into the building. As such, please make every effort to arrive by 6:45PM at the latest. After 6:45pm, we will post a number to call or text so that someone can leave the meeting to let you in.